What a busy few weeks .....

It has been a busy 3 weeks or so ---- it started with a trip to SanFran for a few days - a good trip but VERY busy. Days were basically 12 hour days. I did manage to fit in two runs - each just under 7 miles down through the Embarcadero. It was of course windy but running near salt water was GREAT - felt like I could run forever.

The next week was in DC and it was a beautiful week. Got to swim, run and ride lots. Bike commuted one day - about 50 miles round trip so a good ride. The miles all felt great. I knew the week after would be rough on training - so I started to prepare for that.

Little did I know that the week in London would be so rough. Do not get me wrong - Love London - but where I was in Earls Court area - not a great place for running etc... I did get in 6 or 7 miles the day I arrived - from Earls Court - through Kensington - Knightsbridge and into Hyde Park. I love running in a new city - all the new things just make the miles float away. I ran by the Diana memorial along with the Prince Albert memorial and rolled back to Earls Court. The few days in London were busy as well but I did get to enjoy some of the city - got to run into the British Museum, the Natural Museum (really cool animatronic dinosaurs) along with Harrods. In all cases I do mean run - spending less than 30 minutes in each.

The worse part of the trip was coming down with some sort of chest "thing". I have been hacking up a lung since mid last week. That of course has meant bad nights sleeping and I have not been able to train. Hopefully will get this cleared up in the next day or so - only 5 weeks to the race.

--- G

Proud Dad :-)

This past Sunday my 3 girls competed at the AAU Karate Virginia State Championships. It is still hard to just sit and watch and not be coaching them but I did occasionally slip into coach mode - especially when they were sparring - BUT it was great to see how they have grown in their karate over the last few years. My youngest, Sam, is a natural talent and came home with two State Championship titles (in weapons and empty-hand kata) and a bronze in sparring - which I know disappointed her. Kris, loves the friendships she has developed in karate and enjoys competing and is looking great. She is on the verge of moving to the next level - she brought home a silver medal in weapons kata. Tika, my soon to be 16 year-old, reached another level at last years National Championships when she ended up in the top 5 in the country in one of the most competitive divisions in all of the sport. She has achieved this because she works hard and gets involved - helping teaching and as a coach herself. She also came home with two Gold medals in empty-hand Kata and sparring and a silver in weapons. She just keeps getting better and I know she works hard. Tika also spent most of the tournament helping others - whether in the ring as a coach or helping keep people organized.

How could a Dad not be proud :-)

cu